Tunisia national minifootball team

The Tunisia national minifootball team represents Tunisia in men's international Minifootball competitions and it is controlled by the Tunisian Minifootball Federation (TMF), which governs minifootball in Tunisia. On the continental level, the team competes under the African Minifootball Confederation (AMC), which governs associate football in Africa, and is also affiliated with World Minifootball Federation (WMF) for global competitions. The team is colloquially known as Eagles of Carthage by fans and the media, with the bald eagle serving as its symbol. Their home kit is primarily red and their away kit is white, which is a reference to the national flag of Tunisia. The team has qualified for the WMF World Cup two times, qualified for the African Minifootball Cup one time, competed in one edition of WMF Continental Cup where he finished in second place and one participation in the Arab Minifootball Cup.

Tunisia
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)نسور قرطاج
(Eagles of Carthage)
AssociationTMF
Other affiliationARMF (Arab world)
ConfederationAMC (Africa)
Head coachRiadh Ben Hamdia
First colours
Second colours
First international
Tunisia Tunisia 3–3 Spain 
(Tunis, Tunisia; 2 May 2016)
Biggest win
Tunisia Tunisia 18–0 South Africa 
(Tripoli, Libya; 10 May 2018)
Biggest defeat
Tunisia Tunisia 0–7 Mexico 
(Nabeul, Tunisia; 13 October 2017)
Tunisia Tunisia 0–7 Mexico 
(Perth, Australia; 8 October 2019)
WMF World Cup
Appearances2 (first in 2017)
Best resultQuarter-finals (2017)
African Minifootball Cup
Appearances1 (first in 2018)
Best resultThird place (2018)
WMF Continental Cup
Appearances1 (first in 2019)
Best resultRunner-up (2019)

History

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The minifootball activity in Tunisia started in 2016 with the establishment of the Tunisian Minifootball Federation through businessman Achraf Ben Salha. Tunisia played their first match against Spain in 2 May 2016 and it ended in a 3−3 draw. At the local championship level, the first edition tool place in 2016 was contested with 12 teams. Since then, total number of clubs affiliated to the federation has risen to more than 150, in four corners of Tunisia, with different levels. Latest upgrade was introduction of VAR, establishment of training sessions for minifootball coaches, and organization of the first ladies mini-football championship 2019–20 season.[1]

In the next year, Tunisia hosted the 2017 WMF World Cup, which was played from 6 to 15 October 2017 in Nabeul with the participation of 24 teams.[2] The team was placed in Group F alongside Libya, Lebanon and Portugal. In the opening match against Portugal, Tunisia won 3−2, another big victory against Lebanon 6−1 and a draw against Libya 2−2 to finish the group stage at the top. In the round of 16, Tunisia beat strong Kazakhstan 4−3 on penalties after a 2−2 draw. In the quarter-finals, the team suffered a heavy defeat against Mexico 0−7 and leave the tournament. At the end of the tournament, Ouday Belhaj was chosen as the best player.

In the next year, the team participate at the African Minifootball Cup for the first time in the 2018 edition in Tripoli, Libya. The team was placed in Group B alongside Nigeria, Senegal aand South Africa. Tunisia drew 1−1 with Senegal in the first match, winning against Nigeria 3−1 in the second match and a resounding victory in the third match against South Africa 18−0 to finish the group stage at the top. Tunisia were eliminated from the semi-finals against Ivory Coast on penalties 6−7 after a 2−2 draw. The team get the bronze medal after defeating the host Libya in the third-place match with a score of 1−0.

In March 2019, Tunisia hosted the first edition of the WMF Continental Cup with the participation of 8 teams at the Five Stars Stadium in Tunis. The team was placed in Group A alongside England, Guatemala and Switzerland. Tunisia produced a stunning performance after beating Switzerland 5−1, a big win over Guatemala 9−0 and another win over England 3−0 to top the group and qualify for the final where they lost to world champions Czech Republic 4−5 to get the silver medal.

Thanks to the African participation, the team qualified for the 2019 WMF World Cup in Perth, Australia. The team was placed in Group F alongside Costa Rica, Japan and Slovakia. Tunisia achieved a big win against Costa Rica 8−0 and two draws against Japan 0−0 and Slovakia 1−1. In the round of 16, Mexico defeated Tunisia again with the same result as two years ago, 0−7. Since the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020, Tunisia has not participated in any event, especially the 2023 WMF World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, the 2021 African Minifootball Cup in Nigeria and the 2024 African Minifootball Cup in South Africa. Tunisia is set to participate in the 2025 African Minifootball Cup in Derna, Libya.

Current staff

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Last update: 1 August 2024

Position Name
Head coach   Riadh Ben Hamdia
Assistant coach   Ali Belmadhouna
Physiotherapist   Arbi Belhadj

Managerial history

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Competitive records

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  Champions    Runners-up    Third place    Fourth place

  • Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.

WMF World Cup

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WMF World Cup
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
  2015 Did not enter
  2017 Quarter-finals 5th 5 3 1 1 13 14
  2019 Round of 16 15th 4 1 2 1 9 8
  2023 Did not enter
  2025 TBD
Total Quarter-finals 2/4 9 4 3 2 22 22

WMF Continental Cup

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WMF Continental Cup
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
  2019 Runners-up 2nd 4 3 0 1 21 6
  2021 Did not qualify
Total Runners-up 1/1 4 3 0 1 21 6

African Minifootball Cup

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African Minifootball Cup
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
  2018 Third place 3rd 5 3 2 0 25 4
  2021 Did not enter
  2024
  2025 Qualified
Total Third place 1/4 5 3 2 0 25 4

Arab Minifootball Cup

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Arab Minifootball Cup
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
  2024 Third place 3rd 3 0 1 2 1 3
Total Third place 1/1 3 0 1 2 1 3

Honours and awards

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Honours

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  Runner-up: 2019
  Third-place: 2018
  Third-place: 2024

Awards

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Ouday Belhaj (2017)[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Focus on mini-football in Tunisia". ettachkila. 4 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Organisation of WMF World Cup 2017 goes to Tunisia". TAP. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Tunisie-mini-foot : Mokhtar Tlili éjecté du poste d'entraîneur de la sélection nationale". African Manager (in French). 17 March 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Installation of the technical staff of the Tunisian national mini-football team". Facebook. 17 June 2023.
  5. ^ "The composition of the technical staff of the national team". Facebook. 20 July 2024.
  6. ^ kapitalis, webmaster (16 October 2017). "Coupe du monde de mini-foot 2017 : Le Tunisien Ouday Belhaj meilleur joueur" [2017 MiniFootball World Cup: Tunisian Ouday Belhaj best player]. Kapitalis (in French). Retrieved 2 December 2024.
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